Phono disc playback

ABSTRACT

A playback machine for playing individual bands of a miniature phonograph disc has a carriage for a reproducing needle which can be set at any one of a number of different stations where the needle can be started at the beginning of a selected band. A hand-actuated multiple function actuating lever simultaneously places the needle on the disc and throws a switch to start the turntable motor. A relatively long arm extending transversely across the carriage has the needle mounted at one end and has a yieldable mounting at the other end. The other end of the arm overlies the center of a loud-speaker cone and when the arm is moved by the actuating lever to set the needle on the disc, the arm is simultaneously rested lightly on the center of the loudspeaker cone. Vibrations set up in the needle are in that way transferred mechanically to the loud-speaker cone to reproduce the sound track of the disc. When the needle reaches the end of the selected band it goes no further and then, upon manual release of the actuating lever, the carriage returns automatically to start position, whereby to play the same band over again, and for as many replays as the operator may wish.

United States Patent [1 1 Shacklett PHONO DISC PLAYBACK [76] Inventor:James T. Shacklett, 427 S.

' Manhattan Pl. No. 2048, Los

Angeles, Calif. 90005 [22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 317,067

[52] US. Cl. 274/14 [51] Int. Cl. ..G11b 17/06 [58] Field of Search274/l.l, 15 R, 15 B, 14

[561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,961,242 11/1960 Zimmermannet al. 274/14 3,086,297 4/1963 Kay 1 3,610,638 10/1971 Castagna 274/14FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 441,299 1/1936 Great Britain 274/14Primary ExaminerI-Iarry N. Haroian [57] ABSTRACT A playback machine forplaying individual bands of a 1 Nov. 12, 1974 miniature phonograph dischas a carriage for a reproducing needle which can be set at any one of anumber of different stations where the needle can be started at thebeginning of a selected band. A handactuated multiple function actuatinglever simultaneously places the needle on the disc and throws a switchtostart the turntable motor. A relatively long arm extendingtransversely across the carriage has the needle mounted at one end andhas a yieldable mounting at the other end. The other end of the armoverlies the center of a loud-speaker cone and when the arm is moved bythe actuating lever to set the needle on the disc, the arm issimultaneously rested lightly on the center of the loud-speaker cone.Vibrations set up in the needle are in that way transferred mechanicallyto the loud-speaker cone to reproduce the sound track of the disc. Whenthe needle reaches the end of the selected band it goes no further andthen, upon manual release of the actuating lever, the carriage returnsautomatically to start position, whereby to play the same band overagain, and for as many replays as the operator may wish.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PHONO DISC PLAYBACK Most compactreproducing machines currently available are tape machines for bothrecording and replay, the more current of which make use of packagedtapes called cassettes. While such machines have distinct advantages forpurposes such as the learning of languages, they lack one particular andvery needful characteristic, namely, the capability of repeatedlyplaying selected phrases when the user wishes to memorize and learn thephrase. Also, they have the additional disadvantage of requiring anappreciable amount of time to select different items of information onthe tape which may be appreciably removed one from another.-Not only isit time consuming to runthe tapebackwards or forwards even ataccelerated rates, but it isalso difficult to accurately pick aparticular section of tape where the information is contained.

Even though such tapemachines have been transis torized in order to keepthem as compact as possible, they continue to need relativelycomplicated electronic circuits and intricate parts allof whichcontribute to make such devices relatively expensive and relativelyheavy from the point of view of being easily carried about byhand,.pocket or purse of the user. It is therefore among the objects ofthe invention to provide a new and improved device for playing backinformation which makes use of thin interchangeable phonograph discs onwhich the information is setup in bands which are easy and quick .tolocate andcapable of repeating the playback of information as often asmay be desired.

Another object of the invention is-to provide a new and improved phonodisc playback device whichis relatively inexpensive and particularlywhich is light in weight to the extent that'it presents no problem inbeing carried about either in the pocketor purse orby hand, and withoutneed for provision of a carrying case.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedphono disc playback device which plays equally well in virtually anyposition and which is I so arranged that it can be directed readilytoward some person other than the operator.

Still another object ofthe invention is to providea new and improvedphono disc playback device which, except for the motor drive, depends onmechanical rather than electronic means for reproducing the vibrationson the phonograph disc.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new andimprovedphono disc playback device provided with a turntable whichpermits discs to be readily removedeither for being inverted in order toplay the opposite side of thedisc "or replaced with another comparabledisc where other and different information is made readily available foruse.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new andimproved phono disc playback device which can be quickly shifted-to playany selected band and which is so arranged that the playing of such bandcan be repeated virtually automatically as often as might be desired. I

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of thedevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafterset forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illus- FIG. 4 is afragmentary cross sectional=view take n on v the line .44 of'FIG. -1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal'sectional view similar to FIG. 2but showing the device; in play position. I

In an embodiment of the inventionchosen for the purpose ofillustration,.ther.e isshownaframei101here taking the form of a box-likestructure having a bottom 11, side walls 12, end walls 14 and ISIand atop 16. Within the walls and intermediatethetop and bottom is a batterychamber 17 housingntwo dry ,cellbatteries ,18 and 19 and a largerchamberZO-Whichaccommodates a motor 21 connected to a turntable drive 22which acts on a shaft 23. Aturntable24 istcarried by a column 25,journaled in aportion ofthe turntable drive 22 and-supported by aathrustbearinglfi. Aifriction band 27 extends around-the circumference of theturntable and is engaged-by the shaft2-3 serving as arim drive-shaftwhereby-to simplify thezdrive for achieving approximately an optimumspeed of rotation of the turntable. The turntable is designed tohave-mounted thereon a phonograph disc 28 wherein the playing groovesare presented in aplurality.ofindividualrbands 29, 30,31 and 32, ofgrooves separated by ungrooved bands 33, 34 and 35.

There is a central opening 36 in the disc which is aligned with theaxis-.ofrotation of :the turntable24,.the disc being held in place by apeg 37; The peg is atathe end of an arm 38, the arm being tiltablysupportedon a pivot pin 39 in a block 40. A, release button4'lreciprocatably mounted in theblock 40 bears against an end 42 of the arm38 and is adapted to move the end 42 downwardly against tension inaspring 43 whereby to lift the peg 37 clear of the phonograph disc 28when the disc is to be removed and replaced'by another comparable disc.When the release button 41 is itself relieved, the spring 43 tilts thearm 38 in a direction pressing the peg 38 into the central opening 36.of the disc 28 thereby to hold the disc on the turntable in allpositions of the instrument. By having the outside diameter of the peg37 slightly in excess of the diameter-of the central opening 36, a lightpressure is applied to thephonograph disc 28 holdingit on the turntableevenathough the instrument be turned upside down during use.

On the frame is a guideway indicated generallybytthe reference character50, the guideway comprisingaside rails 51 and 52 on the inner faces ofwhich are.-respective longitudinalgrooves 53 and 54.- ,The groovesslidably accommodate a shoe 55 which, can be moved. back and forthwithin the groove to anyone of a numberof selected positions. A'pinion45-rotatablymountedin the shoe 55 meshes with a rack 46 in thegroove-.534: A

shaft 47 non-rotatably secured to the pinion has on its.

open end a handle 48 which is turned toset the position of the shoe 55in the guideway 50.

Connected to the shoe by means of a hinged connection 57 is a carriage58 which supports a. tone" arm- 60 in a position permitting thecarriage-to set thetone arm in any oneof a number of different chosenpositions.

The carriage 58 and shoe 55 may aptly be made reference to as a carriageassembly inasmuch as the moving and setting of both of these parts isthe mechanism by which the tone arm is placed in proper position.

Since the tone arm 60 is to be moved up and down to positionsrespectively comprising release position and play position an end 61 ofthe carriage 58 opposite from the hinged connection 57, is adapted to bemoved, between the positions respectively of FIGS. 2 and 5. For movingthe respective end 61 of the carriage use is made of an actuating lever62 which, in the chosen embodiment is mounted upon a post 63 and thepost reciprocatably mounted in a bore 64 of a vertical housing 65. Intheactuating lever 62 is a channel 66 formed between a lower pair ofbars 67, 67' and an upper pair of bars 68 and 68. At the end 61 of thecarriage 58 is a bracket 69 at the upper end of which is a sliding crossarm 70, the arm extending outwardly on one side to a position betweenthelower and upper bars 67, 68 and on the other side between lower andupper bars 67' and 68'. The cross arm is madefree to slidelongitudinally between the bars.

To retain the tone arm 60 in proper position on the carriage 58, thereis provided a retaining finger 71 which is located parallel to andspaced from the carriage 58 by means of a boss 72. The finger 71 is sospaced from the carriage 58 as to provide a freely sliding retainmentfor the tone arm 60.

The tone arm 60 at one end 73 has mounted thereon a pickup needle 74 forvibrations imparted to it by grooves in the various bands 29, 30, 31 and32 of the phonograph disc 28. At the opposite end 75 of the tone arm isa downwardly facing rounded boss 76 within which is a bore 77 fittingloosely over a guide pin 78, the guide pin being mounted on a portion16' of the top 16. A spring 79 acts between the portion 16 and thehollow collar 86 on a speaker cone 80. As previously described, the tonearm 60 extends from the guide pin 78 across the carriage 58 where it isconfined by the finger 71.

For translating the vibrations from the phonograph disc into audiblesound, use 'is made of the speaker cone 80, a circumferential rim 81 ofwhich is confined between an annular washer 82 fastened to the undersideof the top 16 and a retaining washer 83 on the opposite side of the rim.A screen 84 of conventional material extends across an outward opening85 for the outward passage of sound waves from the speaker cone.

Centrally located at the small end of the speaker cone is the collar 86upon which the end of the tone arm 60 is adapted to rest when the needleis in playing position on the phonograph disc 28. In this mannervibrations picked up by the needle 74 are passed to the tone arm andthence to the collar 86 whereby the speaker cone receives the vibrationstranslating them into sound waves which are projected from the speakeroutwardly through the opening 85.

The spring may be dispensed with when pressure of the finger 71 issufficient to hold the tone arm in playing position.

The tone arm 60 is normally held againsta stop 88 on the carriage 58 byaction of a tie 89 which is fastened at one end to a tab 99 on the tonearm. The other end 91 'of the tie, as shown inFIG. 5, extends throughand is anchored to the shoe 55. The tie, moreover, extends freelythrough an opening 92 in the carriage 58,

as shown also in FIG. 2, so that the tie slides freely within theopening.

By reason of there being a spring 95 acting between an extension 96 onthe post 63 and the underside of the top 16 of the frame normally biasedto lift the post 63 and the actuating lever 62, the end 61 of thecarriage 58 will normally be lifted to the position of FIG. 2. In thisposition, and with the tie 89 being of fixed predetermined length, whenthe carriage is tilted upwardly tension is put on the tie 89 which pullsthe tone arm 60 to its position against-the stop 88 as shown in FIG. 2.A slot 97 accommodates-the extension 96.

When the tone arm is to be placed in play position, which means that theneedle 74 is at play position in the outermost groove of any one oranother of the bands 29, 30, 31 or 32, the shoe and accordingly thecarriage 58 is moved to a selected position. Assuming, for example thatthe play is to commence on band 30, the shoe and carriage are moved tothe position illustrated in FIG. 1 which is a position wherein theneedle 74 will be at play position in the outermost of the grooves ofthe band 30. Thevshoe could be as readily shifted to accommodate anyoneof the other bands. Preferably detents 98 may be provided along theguideway engageable with the shoe, there being a detent corresponding toeach of the bands.

When positioned. as described, the instrument is ready for playing. Thisis accomplished by depressing the actuating lever 62 with the finger, assuggested in FIG. 5, moving the post 63 downwardly against tension inthe spring 95 and, at the same time, moving the tone arm from theposition of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 4.

At the same time this is done, tension is released on the tie 89 so thatit lies loose as shown in FIG. 5. The needle 74 then follows the groovesof band 30 of the phonograph disc and is allowed to move freely betweenthe finger 71 and the carriage 58. There being very light resistance tomovement, the other end of the tone arm and the boss 76 is allowed torest lightly on the edge of the collar 86 while it is transferringvibrations set up in the tone arm by action of the needle to the collarand, accordingly, to the speaker cone.

Since the grooves of the band 30 do not lead into grooves of the nextband 31, when the needle reaches the final groove in the band 30 itceasesto transmit vibrations and playing stops at this finish position.Should the operator wish to repeat playing of the band 30, the onlymovement necessary is to release the actuating lever 62 permitting thespring to lift the actuating lever and accordingly the carriage 58 andtone arm 60. This lifts the needle from the phonograph disc andsimultaneously by application of tension to the tie 89, the tone arm isdrawn from its advanced position back to start play position against thestop 88. All that is necessary then for a repeat play is for theoperator to again depress the actuating lever 62, and the same band 30is played over again.

When the operator wishes to shift play to a different band, the onlyoperation necessary to accomplish this is to shift the shoe 55 andaccordingly the carriage 58 to one of the other positions accommodatingany one of the other bands, 29, 31 or 32, whereupon by again depressingthe actuating lever 62, play is commenced at the start groove of any oneof the selected bands.

Electric actuation of the turntable motor 21 is conventional in thatswitch armatures 100 and ltltl respectively on the actuating lever 62and frame top 16 are moved to closed position as shown in FIG. 5 for thecircuit connecting the batteries 18 and 19 with the motor 21. Thecircuit thus closed remains energized as long as the actuating lever isdepressed which means that the turntable will rotate for as long asnecessary to have the needle traverse all the groovesof a selected band.As promptly as the actuating lever 62 is released, the cireuit isdeenergizedand rotation of the turntable ceases.

By making that portion of the frame which accommodates the batteries 18and 19 relatively narrow, it serves as a handhold for the operatorpermitting the operator to manipulate the instrument into virtually anyposition either facing outwardly toward some person removed from theoperator or facing in an opposite direction toward the operator merelyby reversing the grip. ln'either position the hand-hold is such that onefinger or another or some part of the finger can be moved to a positionoverlying the actuating lever-62 in order to start play of any selectedband on the phonograph disc. lnasmuch as the arm 38 effectively holdsthe phonograph disc 28 down on the turntable, the phonograph disc is notdisturbed by moving the instrument about or inverting it. 7

While the invention has herein been shown andd'escribed in what isconceived to be a practical and effective embodiment it is recognizedthat departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention,which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to beaccorded the full scope of the claimsso as to embrace any and allequivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support ofLetters Patent is:

1. A phonograph disc playback device for use with a disc having bands ofgroovescomprising a frame, a motor actuated turntable on the frame, saidframe including a guideway, a carriage slidably mounted on the guideway,a tone arm carried by the carriage and a needle on the tone arm havingplaying engagement positions relative to the disc, said carriage havinga plurality of stations on the guideway corresponding to the respectivebands of grooves on the disc, said tone arm having a path of travel onsaid carriage between start and finish play positions of a selectedband, an actuating lever movably mounted on said frame for operationbetween operating and release positions, said actuating lever beingoperably connected with said tone arm at said stations, said tone armbeing in play position with the needle in contact with the disc at startplay position when said actuating arm is in operating position, therebeing a return mechanism on the carriage operably associated with thetone arm and operable to return the tone arm to start position, and aswitch for activating the turntable responsive to movement of theactuating lever when the actuating lever is in operable position,whereby upon each movement of the actuating lever after return of saidtone arm to start play position there is a repeat play of the needle onthe selected band of the disc.

2. A phonograph disc playback device as in claim 1 wherein there. areyieldable detents corresponding to the respective bands on the discoperable between the carriage and the frame for locating the carriage ata selected band.

3. A phonograph disc playback device as in claim 1 wherein there is astop on the carriage for said tone arm when the tone arm is in -startplay position, said'tone arm having a stop position on the carriage whensaid tonearm is in finish play position.

4. A phonograph disc playbackdevice asin claim'l wherein the turntableis on one lateral side of the guide-.

way and there is a speaker cone on the other lateral side of theguideway and the central axes respectively of the'turntable and thespeaker-are substantially parallel to each other.

5. A phonograph disc playback device as in claim 4 wherein the needle isat one end of the tone arm and there is a movable support on the framefor the other end of the tone arm, a portion of the tone arm having aposition of engagement with the speaker. cone at its center whereby totransmit vibrations picked ,up by the needle to the speaker forreproduction of sounds from the bands on the disc.

6. A phonograph disc playback device as in claim 1 wherein there is alongitudinally slidable engagement between'the actuating lever and thecarriage during movement of the carriage in the guideway.

7. A phonograph disc playbaekdevice-as in claim 1 wherein said switchhas a position relative to the actuating lever subject to beingenergized when;the .actuating lever is moved to a positionwhereintheneedle is on the disc at start play position for therespective band. v

8. A phonograph disc playback device as in claim 1 wherein means forholding the disc in position on the tumtable comprises a post. adaptedto engage the disc at the center and resilientmeans acting betweenthepost and the frame, said post being movable between a disc holdingposition for holding the disc on the turntable and a release positionwherein the disc can ,be removed for replacement.

9. A phonograph disc playback device as in claim 4 wherein the outputface of the-speaker is parallelto the turntable and faces a directionopposite to the side of the turntable on which the disc is located.

10. A phonograph disc playback-device as in claim 1 wherein returnmechanism is automaticand comprises a connection between the tone armandthe carriage which-is free of engagement while the needle travels fromstart play to finish and which is activiated to return the tone arm tostart play position by action of the actuating lever when movingtorelease position.

11. A system for the selective playing of separate recorded bands on aphonograph-disc comprising adisc having concentric bands of soundreproducing grooves and a smooth non-grooved annular area onithe-gdiscseparating said bands,

a frame having a rotating. turntable receptive of said disc, a guidewayon theframe, Y

a carriage slidably mounted on the guideay,

a tone arm carried by the carriage and a needle on v the tone arm havingplaying engagement positions relative to the disc,

said carriage having a plurality of stations on the guideway,

said disc having bands equal in number to the stations 'on the guideway,

said tone arm having a path of travel limited to a distance betweenoutermost grooves of .therespeetive bands,

in contact ,with the disc at start-play position when said actuating armis in operating position, there being a return mechanism on the carriageoperably associated with the tone arm for a distance corresponding tothe width of eachrespective band and operable to return the tone arm tostart play position, and a switch for activating the turntableresponsive to movements of the actuating lever when the actuating leveris in operable position, whereby upon each movement of the actuatinglever after return of said tone arm to start play position there is arepeat play of the needle on the selected hand ofthe disc.

1. A phonograph disc playback device for use with a disc having bands ofgrooves comprising a frame, a motor actuated turntable on the frame,said frame including a guideway, a carriage slidably mounted on theguideway, a tone arm carried by the carriage and a needle on the tonearm having playing engagement positions relative to the disc, saidcarriage having a plurality of stations on the guideway corresponding tothe respective bands of grooves on the disc, said tone arm having a pathof travel on said carriage between start and finish play positions of aselected band, an actuating lever movably mounted on said frame foroperation between operating and release positions, said actuating leverbeing operably connected with said tone arm at said stations, said tonearm being in play position with the needle in contact with the disc atstart play position when said actuating arm is in operating position,there being a return mechanism on the carriage operably associated withthe tone arm and operable to return the tone arm to start position, anda switch for activating the turntable responsive to movement of theactuating lever when the actuating lever is in operable position,whereby upon each movement of the actuating lever after return of saidtone arm to start play position there is a repeat play of the needle onthe selected band of the disc.
 2. A phonograph disc playback device asin claim 1 wherein there are yieldable detents corresponding to therespective bands on the disc operable between the carriage and the framefor locating the carriage at a selected band.
 3. A phonograph discplayback device as in claim 1 wherein there is a stop on the carriagefor said tone arm when the tone arm is in start play position, said tonearm having a stop position on the carriage when said tone arm is infinish play position.
 4. A phonograph disc playback device as in claim 1wherein the turntable is on one lateral side of the guideway and thereis a speaker cone on the other lateral side of the guideway and thecentral axes respectively of the turntable and the speaker aresubstantially parallel to each other.
 5. A phonograph disc playbackdevice as in claim 4 wherein the needle is at one end of the tone armand there is a movable support on the frame for the other end of thetone arm, a portion of the tone arm having a position of engagement withthe speaker cone at its center whereby to transmit vibrations picked upby the needle to the speaker for reproduction of sounds from the bandson the disc.
 6. A phonograph disc playback device as in claim 1 whereinthere is a longitudinally slidable engagement between the actuatinglever and the carriage during movement of the carriage in the guideway.7. A phonograph disc playback device as in claim 1 wherein said switchhas a position relative to the actuating lever subject to beingenergized when the actuating lever is moved to a position wherein theneedle is on the disc at start play position for the respective band. 8.A phonograph disc playback device as in claim 1 wherein means forholding the diSc in position on the turntable comprises a post adaptedto engage the disc at the center and resilient means acting between thepost and the frame, said post being movable between a disc holdingposition for holding the disc on the turntable and a release positionwherein the disc can be removed for replacement.
 9. A phonograph discplayback device as in claim 4 wherein the output face of the speaker isparallel to the turntable and faces a direction opposite to the side ofthe turntable on which the disc is located.
 10. A phonograph discplayback device as in claim 1 wherein return mechanism is automatic andcomprises a connection between the tone arm and the carriage which isfree of engagement while the needle travels from start play to finishand which is activiated to return the tone arm to start play position byaction of the actuating lever when moving to release position.
 11. Asystem for the selective playing of separate recorded bands on aphonograph disc comprising a disc having concentric bands of soundreproducing grooves and a smooth non-grooved annular area on the discseparating said bands, a frame having a rotating turntable receptive ofsaid disc, a guideway on the frame, a carriage slidably mounted on theguideay, a tone arm carried by the carriage and a needle on the tone armhaving playing engagement positions relative to the disc, said carriagehaving a plurality of stations on the guideway, said disc having bandsequal in number to the stations on the guideway, said tone arm having apath of travel limited to a distance between outermost grooves of therespective bands, an actuating lever movably mounted on said frame foroperation between operating and release positions, said actuating leverbeing operably connected with said tone arm at all stations, said tonearm being in play position with the needle in contact with the disc atstart play position when said actuating arm is in operating position,there being a return mechanism on the carriage operably associated withthe tone arm for a distance corresponding to the width of eachrespective band and operable to return the tone arm to start playposition, and a switch for activating the turntable responsive tomovements of the actuating lever when the actuating lever is in operableposition, whereby upon each movement of the actuating lever after returnof said tone arm to start play position there is a repeat play of theneedle on the selected band of the disc.